Friday, October 23, 2015

I've been on Facebook for a while now, and anyone who is on Facebook knows that it's prime real estate for posting pictures of events in one's life, especially happy couple photos. Lots of happy couple photos. I've long been paranoid about not being that person, the person who advertises life events. So John and I(mostly me, I guess) may possibly be on the other end of things, in carefully sharing very little about our engagement and wedding on social media. Also, neither of us is like, "Yay! Let's get our picture taken!" So that helps.

Bam. Soak it up, people.

However, we did get our pictures taken. If only because having watched
my siblings get married before me, I knew that mothers give no peace
unless some pictures are taken. And, in an effort to satisfy those
amazing people who truly do want to see pictures, but still not be that
person on Facebook, here is a post dedicated to pictures, of two people
together, sitting as close as possible.

John nearly fell into the Koi pond and could have been eaten alive. But
he didn't; and so then I tried pushing him over. He weighs too much.

A pond full of ravenous fish.

The botanical gardens in Fort Worth are free, except for the gated Japanese gardens where we took pictures. Anyway, it looked like a fairly large garden, and close to campus, so hopefully we can come back and explore the rest of it at some point.

This past week at the costume shop I cut apart half a dozen supposedly romantic outfits, that were a stretch knit with a wood pattern. They made up world's most hideous Pinocchio t-shirt and pants. Also, I made a skirt that's supposed to look like a mushroom and a electric poncho made out of a blanket. And a shirt made out of a choir robe, and striped pants and blouse for a Christmas elf. Now the project for next week is Simplicity 1095, a Tardis skirt, corset and hood.

It's a Mushroom?

And we are a super long-short seventy days from the looming lingering Matrimonial Date. Some well-meaning and smart people have been telling me how hard marriage is. Communication, respect, letting go of the little things, he will annoy you, etc. I say no way! Marriage is so totally way better than being single, and it's going to be awesome.

A Quilt!

I went to my first quilt show on Saturday. Hosted by the Cottonwood Quilting Guild, the quilt show was in a church gym. There were at least half a dozen nearly ceiling high wood racks with quilts on both sides. They were all either pieced quilts, or artistic quilts, more like wall hangings. It was $6 to get in, and there was home-made pie and other food for sale. Pieced quilts are amazing, and I appreciate them as a hobby and an art, but anyone who's been reading my blog knows I love the hand-made wholecloth quilts best!

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

I just got back from another week-long visit to Texas, my last visit before the wedding. I know I need to be positive, so I won't mention the horrible mosquitoes, or road traffic, or mind-blowingly large Texas egos(not Him, obviously: just other people).

Him in Texas.

Me in Texas.

There were some differences from my last visit. Last time I visited, we were still "negotiating." This time we were "committed." (We were dating and now we're engaged. I like to use non-traditional wording).

Japan in Texas.

So everyone wants to know what we did the whole week. We got our pictures taken. We went ring shopping. We sat on the couch, a lot. In fact, mostly we just sat on the couch, and it was really nice.

What we drank in Texas.

We also ate lots of chocolate. I brought coconut chocolate, which wasn't much of a hit, and He ordered raspberry chocolate online. Apparently Amazon told Him that He was ordering six pieces of chocolate, which of course is not enough, so He upped it to twelve, and when I arrived there were twelve bags of Ghirardelli raspberry chocolate. Arranged in a heart shape. On my bed. Anyway, we ate six of the twelve bags of chocolate, shared between four people, in one week. Impressive appetite, if you ask me!

About the Small Servant

I sew for money! Contact for inquiries: emilyjoyd@gmail.com
"This Marchioness," said Mr. Swiveller, folding his arms, "Is a very extraordinary person- surrounded by mysteries, ignorant of the taste of beer, unacquainted with her own name(which is less remarkable), and taking a limited view of society through the keyholes of doors- can these things be her destiny, or has some unknown person started an opposition to the decrees of fate! It is a most unscrutable and unmitigated staggerer!
-Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens